The French military intervention in Mali, known as Operation Serval[1] [en] started on January 11, 2013 following the advance of terrorists groups towards Bamako. Lauded by a substantial part of the Malian population[2] [en] and many outside observers[3], the military intervention diverts, however, from the non-interventionist line professed by French President Hollande in Africa.

The French have now intervened more than 50 times in Africa since 1960. They fought in Chad, in the war with Libya, protected regimes in Djibouti and the Central African Republic from rebels, prevented a coup in the Comoros and intervened in Côte d'Ivoire. Whether to preserve economic interests, protect French nationals or showcase the still imposing power of France, the main tenants of the Palais de l'Élysée, either from the left or from the right wings, have frequently expressed their penchant for unilateral action. But … nobody has ever protested. If … the United States intervened in such a manner, there would be an endless sequence of protests in Europe. U.S. embassies would see angry diplomats coming through their doors, starting with the French ones.

[8]

Map of the Tuareg rebellion in Azawad, Northern Mali showing rebel attacks as of April 5, 2012 (CC-BY-3.0)

Below is a chronology of these interventions [There are indeed quite a few of them but contrary to what the Cech newspaper stated, there were less than 50 french interventions in Africa ]. It is based on two articles: one is a review written by Nestor N’Gampoula[9] for Oeil d'Afrique and another one by Jean-Patrick Grumberg for Dreuz Info[10]. Grumberg adds that most of the French interventions in Africa took place on former colonial soil[11] :

In 1964, airborne french troops landed in Libreville, Gabon[12] after an attempted coup against the regime back then.

In 1978 in Zaire[15] (now Democratic Republic of Congo), 600 French legionnaires went into the town of Kolwezi[16], in the south-east to help thousands of Africans and Europeans threatened by Katangan rebels. The mission was in response to a call for help made by President Mobutu Sese Seko to help his country. The operation cost the lives of five legionnaires, but allowed the evacuation of 2700 Westerners.

From 1983-1984 in Chad, France undertook Operation Manta[20], a 3,000 men strong operation to face armed rebels supported by Libya. Two years later, another French military action, composed of mostly aerial attacks called “Operation Epervier[21]“, was deployed after an anti-government attack.

In Comoros[22] in 1989, after the assassination of President Ahmed Abdallah[23] and the takeover of the country by the French mercenary Bob Denard[24], about 200 French soldiers arrived in the country to force them to leave the country.

In 1990, Paris sends troops to Gabon[12] in Libreville and Port-Gentil[25] in reinforcement of the French contingent after violent riots erupted. The operation allowed the evacuation of some 1,800 foreigners.

In 1991 in Zaire[15] (now Democratic Republic of Congo), the Belgian and French troops managed to evacuate foreigners after violent riots and looting occurred in the country.

In 1991 still, French troops based in Djibouti help the Afar rebellion[26] to disarm Ethiopian troops that had crossed the border following the overthrow of Ethiopian President Mengistu Haile Mariam[27].

In 1996 in the Central African Republic[17] (CAR), operation Almandin[32] secured the safety of foreigners and the evacuation of 1,600 people after the army mutinied against President Ange-Félix Patassé[33]. The following year in 1997, specifically after the murder of two French soldiers, a French operation against the mutineers was mandated in Bangui (Central African Republic).

The same year, 1997, some 1,200 French soldiers rescued French and African expatriates during fighting between the Congolese army and supporters of the military leader Denis Sassou Nguesso[34], now President of the Republic of Congo[35].

In 2002, French forces undertook Operation Licorne[36] to help Westerners trapped by a military uprising that effectively divided Côte-d’Ivoire[37] in two regions.

In 2003, Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo), Operation Artemis[38] in Ituri[39] secured the area and put an end to ongoing massacres. This was followed by the deployment of 2,000 peacekeepers[40], 80% of which were French.

In 2004 in Côte-d’Ivoire[37], France destroyed the small Ivorian airforce after government forces bombed a French base.

In 2008 a new French intervention strengthens the regime of Chadian President Idriss Deby and evacuated foreigners while rebels from neighboring Sudan[41] attacked.

In March 2011 in Libya[42] had the French airforces were the first to bomb Gaddafi[43] forces after the vote at the United Nations authorized intervention in Libya to protect civilians caught up in the rebellion against Gaddafi. NATO[44] took command of the overall mission on March 31, a mission that helped the Libyan rebels to defeat the forces of the government and take power.

In 2011 in Côte-d’Ivoire[37], French forces alongside UN forces tip the balance in favor of Ouattara during the civil war. The war broke out after the refusal of Laurent Gbagbo to resign and accept the verdict of the election that pronounced Alassane Ouattara as president.

In 2013 in Mali[47], French bombarded Islamist rebels after they tried to expand their powerbase towards the Malian capital, Bamako. France had already warned that control of the north of Mali by the rebels posed a threat to the security of Europe.

At the same time, France has mounted a commando operation to try to save a French hostage held by al Shabaab militants in Somalia[48], also allied with al-Qaeda. The hostage was killed[49] by the militants.

[6] why French interventions in Africa do not raise protests around the world: http://francois-d-alancon.blogs.la-croix.com/afrique-pourquoi-les-interventions-francaises-ne-suscitent-pas-de-protestations/2013/01/15/